I prefer use chalk as a way to keep a good grip. But I also use lifting straps in certain circumstances. The premise behind straps is pretty simple–your grip may be a “weak link” which keeps you from training other muscles at maximum intensity.
But here’s the dilemma: you don’t want weightlifting straps to become a “crutch” which keeps you from developing grip strength. So be sure you are doing plenty of work (pulling, etc) without straps.
Here are situations where I use straps:
*High volume training: whenever I’ve done “German Volume Training” (10 sets, 10 reps) or similar types of training (lots of sets/reps) my grip wears out on the last few sets of back work. Straps come in handy here.
*Fatigue: Sometimes I do Romanian deadlift after squats or regular deadlifts (depending on how I have set up my training split). This means I’m very tired and covered in sweat. Straps help me focus on working my hamstrings without worrying about dropping the bar .
*Equipment issues: You may encounter situations where the grip threads on barbells, etc, just aren’t that great and straps give an extra measure of safety.
*Gym rules: a lot of gyms (even good gyms) don’t allow chalk. This is unfortunate, but to be honest, I understand the gym owner’s perspective–a lot of trainees would not think twice about making a huge mess (just think about how many people won’t bother to re-rack their weights).
I’ve always just used the plain, cotton version. Right now I’m using a pair of Grizzly brand straps that I’ve had for a while, but I’m guessing the brand isn’t terribly important (it’s just a strap, after all). You can click the image to check them out on Amazon and look at other brands/designs as well.
Mike Gillette is a former SWAT commander and Executive Bodyguard. He has enjoyed a career as one of the most highly credentialed tactical trainers in the United States, with over 25 different Use-of-Force and Weapons Systems instructor designations to his name. He is a martial arts practitioner with black belts in Japanese, Filipino and American martial arts styles.
He is also a student of mind/body power who performs impressive feats of strength to prove his methods work. He does this despite being 48 years old with a history of working through various injuries.
Let’s talk about what you get with this program.
Program Components
The Savage Strength Manifesto
This is Mike’s overall philosophy of training, and to a certain extent, life in general.
He explains the principles behind the program. He distinguishes traditional bodybuilding training vs. strength training. Getting big, Mike argues, can be very difficult for some trainees. But virtually anyone can get strong with the correct training techniques. The author uses himself as an example: he is only five foot nine inches tall and 185 lb.
I was really impressed with this e-book. It is a nice combination of motivational and practical information. You’ll see an explanation of the training techniques, but you’ll also find yourself more motivated after reading it.
This is self-explanatory: printable training logs you can use to track your progress through the workouts.
The Exercise Library
You can see a demonstration of the exercises in two ways. First, you can download a pdf file. But you can also go to a page and watch instructional videos.
Advanced Push-Up Technique
Bonus: Video Coaching Walk-Through
You can watch a video walk-through of the training sessions online or you can download them. Technical note: you may find that you have to rename the file and give in an mp4 extension once you have downloaded it. I had to do this but it worked like a charm once I gave the file the correct extension.
Bonus: Construct Your Own Suspension Gym
Suspension Gym
This one is really cool—you can build your own construction gym with nylon rope and a few other basic, inexpensive items. Gillette shows you exactly how to do this (how to tie the knots—everything).
Bonus: Century Sets
This e-report presents a pretty simple idea: challenge yourself by trying to do one hundred reps of an exercise, like chin-ups.
Review/Recommendation:
Needless to say, I make money off of this blog. But I don’t want to push you into buying something that isn’t for you—I want you to make a decision that will help you reach your fitness goals.
Let me first tell you who/what this program is not for. Savage strength is not a bodybuilding or fat loss program. Yes, you could get bigger or burn fat while training this way, but I’d recommend other programs for those goals. You should always be clear about your goal before you invest in a program (not to mention investing the time to train).
You’ll be doing some weight lifting movements, but you’ll also be doing body weight training and other variations that you wouldn’t find in a traditional bodybuilding program (suspension training, etc).
Savage Strengthis about building functional strength. I think it would benefit those who want to get stronger for real-life applications: sports, martial arts, and even everyday activities. I believe this program would be a worthwhile investment if this interest you.
